9 Festivals in October 2025 in India
October is one of the most festive months in India, filled with joy, traditions, and colorful celebrations. From North to South, East to West, every region comes alive with unique rituals and grand festivities. This month marks some of the biggest festivals like Navratri, Durga Puja, Dussehra, Karwa Chauth, and Diwali, along with vibrant regional celebrations such as Bathukamma in Telangana and Chhath Puja in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Whether it’s fasting, feasting, dancing, or lighting diyas, October truly brings people together in the spirit of devotion and happiness. Here are the top festivals in October 2025 in India that you must know about.
Festivals In October In India To Celebrate This Year
Here are some of the best and famous festivals celebrated in the month of October all over India with much grandeur and joy.
1. Navaratri
Navratri – a nine nights long celebration – is one of the most observed festivals in October, seen mainly in northern part of India and Gujarat. While the people of the northern states follow a religious fasting regime, those in Gujarat showcase a more vibrant fiesta. Every year people get engrossed in the highly enthralling Dandiya & Garba dances to honor and worship Goddess Amba in nine different avatars.
Key Attractions: Women is dazzling traditional lehenga-choli are seen dancing to the beats of Garba and celebrating with authentic Gujarati cuisine like Mandavi Paak, Singoda ki Kheer, etc.
Dates For Navratri 2025: 22th September – 2th October
Where: North India and Gujarat
2. Durga Puja
Durga Puja is among the most important festivals in October in India, celebrated by the Bengalis all over India. The gala affair engrosses the people with grand celebrations. Pandals are set up in every locality and Durga idol is worshiped there. People in their best attires go for pandal hopping (even during midnight) and extravagant feasting.
Key Attractions: 10 armed Durga idols, loud chants, and sumptuous food at the pandals
Dates for Durga Puja 2025: 28th September to 2th October
Where: Kolkata and other metropolitan cities
3. Dussehra
Dussehra is celebrated pan India with utmost joy and delight. This is one of the most popular festivals in October in India and marks the demise of Ravana, Meghnath, and Kumbhakarna. It is also popular as Vijaya Dashami. Along with Navratri, Ramlila is enacted for nine days and the 10th day – Dussehra – is celebrated with the enactment of Ravan Dahan.
Kullu Dussehra: Kullu (Himachal Pradesh) is also well known for Dussehra celebration with its international folk festival, phool yatra, Kullu fair, and Naina Devi fair. The 10 days’ affair is also regarded as one of the popular festivals in October in India and is celebrated with international folk festival, Naina Devi fair, Kullu fair, and phool yatra.
Key Attractions: Burning of effigies of Demon king Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnath
Dates For Dusshera 2025: 2th October
Where: All over the country
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4. Bathukamma
Famous in the state of Telangana in the southern part of the country, Bathukamma is a festival that takes place around the same time as that of Navaratri. This is a flower festival that is devoted to celebrating life and Goddess Maha Gauri. For those who wish to celebrate the happiest festivals in India can consider being a part of Bathukamma. Celebrating the incarnation of Goddess Durga that is known to be a life-giver and the Goddess of womanhood, this town goes gaga over various shaded flowers. There is a temple tower structure that is completely built using flower arrangements. It is a celebration like no other.
Key Attractions: Women singing old folk songs and procession of the Bathukammas on the last day
Dates For Bathukamma 2025: 25th September
Where: Telangana
5. Karwa Chauth
Karwa Chauth is a special festival for married women in North India. On this day, women keep a fast without food and water from sunrise to moonrise, praying for the long life and good health of their husbands. The fast is broken after seeing the moon at night. It is one of the most popular festivals in October in India and is celebrated with love and traditions.
In Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Delhi, the festival is celebrated in a big way. Women wear traditional clothes, apply mehendi, decorate their thalis (plates), and take part in evening prayers before waiting to see the moon.
Key Attractions: Women dressing up like brides, mehendi designs, decorated thalis, evening puja, and moon-sighting.
Date for Karwa Chauth 2025: 10th October
Where: Mainly in North India – Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and nearby states.
6.Dhanteras
Dhanteras is the first day of the Diwali festival and marks the beginning of the five-day celebrations. On this day, people worship Lord Dhanvantari (the god of health) and Goddess Lakshmi for wealth, prosperity, and good fortune. Buying gold, silver, or new utensils is considered very lucky on Dhanteras.
Markets and shops are beautifully decorated, and people light diyas in the evening to welcome Goddess Lakshmi. It is one of the most important festivals in October in India.
Key Attractions: Buying gold, silver, utensils, lighting diyas, Lakshmi and Dhanvantari puja.
Date for Dhanteras 2025: 18th October
Where: Celebrated all over India, especially in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
7. Diwali
Diwali – the Festival of Lights – is one of the most celebrated festivals in India in October and November. It’s one of the major events in October that are celebrated throughout the nation.
Celebrated by almost all communities throughout India, Diwali celebrates the return of Lord Rama, Lakshmana, and Devi Sita after 14 years of exile. The houses and streets are decorated with lights, diyas, and rangolis. People perform pujas, burst crackers, and distribute gifts on the occasion.
Key Attractions: Bustling crackers and beautifully decorated homes with clay diyas, candles, & strings of colorful LED lights
Date For Diwali 2025: 20th October
Where: Pan India
8.Govardhan Puja
Govardhan Puja is celebrated the day after Diwali and is dedicated to Lord Krishna. The festival marks the story when Lord Krishna lifted the Govardhan Hill to protect the people of Gokul from heavy rains. On this day, people prepare a variety of food items (called Annakut) and offer them to Lord Krishna as a symbol of gratitude.
In many places, small Govardhan hills are made from cow dung and decorated with flowers to honor the tradition. Devotees also perform pujas and sing devotional songs.
Key Attractions: Annakut (offering of many food dishes), Govardhan hill made of cow dung, Krishna puja, and community feasts.
Date for Govardhan Puja 2025: 22nd October
Where: Mainly in Uttar Pradesh (Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana), Gujarat, Rajasthan, and other parts of North India.
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9.Chhath Puja
Chhath Puja is a major festival dedicated to the Sun God (Surya Dev) and his wife Usha. Devotees thank the Sun for giving life on earth and pray for health, happiness, and prosperity. The festival is celebrated for four days with strict rituals, fasting, and holy dips in rivers or water bodies.
The main rituals include offering arghya (water offerings) to the setting and rising sun, singing traditional songs, and preparing special prasad like thekua. Women mostly observe the fast, but men also participate in the rituals.
Key Attractions: Offering arghya to the setting and rising sun, holy river baths, fasting, traditional songs, and prasad.
Date for Chhath Puja 2025: 27th October
Where: Mainly in Bihar, Jharkhand, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal, but also celebrated by communities across India.
Are you excited to indulge into these festivals and enjoy a time like never before exploring the culture of the country? Then save the dates of these festivals in October in India and plan a family holiday in India. Do not forget to share your experiences with us.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Festivals In October In India
Which festival comes in the month of October?
Some of the best festivals in October in India are Navratri, Mysore Dussehra, India Art Festival, Diwali, Samsara Himalaya Yoga Festival and Marwar Festival.
What are the key attractions of Marwar festival?
One of the most colourful festivals in India in October, Marwar festivals key attractions include horse riding, magic shows, camel tattoo shows, puppet shows, and horse polo. Happening in Jodhpur, Rajasthan this is one of the best places to visit in October in India.
Which festival comes in the autumn season?
The most awaited autumn festival in India falls in late October and early November. It is Diwali, the festival of lights which is widely celebrated by people all over India.
What is Gadbade festival?
Gadbade festival is celebrated in Haryana on Sharad Purnima which falls in the month of October or November. On this particular day, the moon is brightest in the entire year.
Which are the famous folk and cultural festivals celebrated in India in October?
The famous art and cultural festivals celebrated throughout the country in October are India Art Festival, Rajasthan International Folk Festival, Samsara Himalaya Yoga Festival, Marwar Festival.
Which are the popular religious festivals celebrated in October?
Dussehra, Mysore Dussehra, Mannarasala Ayilyam, Diwali are some of the best and famous festivals celebrated in October in India.
Which festival is on 24 October?
24th of October has been celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948. In 1971, the United Nations General Assembly recommended that this day be observed by the Member States as a public holiday.
What celebrations are in spring in India?
Vasant Panchami, Khajuraho Dance Festival, Goa Carnival, Gangaur, Holi, Vasant Navaratri are some of top celebrated spring festivals in India.
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A book lover and fun-loving, overtly emotional mom with a wanderlust soul, Sukanya has completed her Master Degree in Geography and currently perusing her passion for writing as a profession. Nothing detoxes her more than trying new recipes and travelling to offbeat places is ultimate Therapy for her.
